Window screen fitting



Filed April 26, 1951 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 19, 1953 J, osw 2,638,622

WINDOW SCREEN FITTING I /7 fi a 3 1.!

M 3nventor (Iltomegs Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW SCREEN FITTING Joseph H. Oswald, South Euclid, Ohio Application April 26, 1951, Serial No. 223,033

2 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in window screens and particularly to fittings for securing exterior screens in the window frame structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved metal fittings comprising hanger parts attachable to a window frame structure and a screen part attachable to an exterior screen crossrail for cooperation with the hangers to pivotally support the screen and with a window sash crossrail to form an insect-tight joint between the screen and the window sash.

Another object of the invention is to provide fittings constructed to permit installation of screens without the necessity of fitting them individually to the window frame structure and to render screens with the improved fittings interchangeable in windows of the same glass size.

Another object of the invention is to provide window screen fittings susceptible of easy and rapid initial installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide screen fittings constructed to accommodate substantial window frame variations from nominal dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to provide fittings constructed to permit quick and easy detachment of the screen from the window frame while substantially preventing accidental or unintentional detachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide fittings of the character noted above which are of Simple construction and susceptible of manufacture at low cost.

For the attainment f the foregoing objects and other objects more or less ancillary or incidental thereto, the invention consists in fittings formed, constructed and combined as explained in the following description of preferred forms of construction shown in the accompanying drawings and as defined in appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is an exterior elevation of a window frame, sash and a half-screen provided with the improved attachment fittings, a considerable portion of the frame, window sash and screen structures being broken away to permit illustration on a scale larger than would otherwise be possible.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken .on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing the attachment fittings and the screen moved to positions for detachment of the screen from the window frame.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of an end portion of the filler strip fittings.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged end view of the filler strip fitting.

Fig. 8 is an end view of a modified form of filler strip fitting.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged face view of one of the two hanger fittings.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line l0lll of Fig. 9.

The structures shown in the drawings illustrate application of the invention to the mounting of a half-screen in a double-hung sliding-sash window, for which use the invention is particularly well adapted. The numeral I designates generally a window frame of the type referred to, the major part of the upper half of the window frame and of the upper window sash bein broken away. The frame I comprises the usual stiles 2, 2 and sill 3. The stiles 2, 2 as Well as the window frame head (not shown) are fitted with the usual blind or screen stops 4, 4 and intermediate window sash stops, one of which is shown at 5 (Fig. 3). A conventional upper window sash, generally designated by numeral 6, has a meeting rail 1 and slides between stops 4 and 5.

A half screen, generally designated by numeral 8, comprises stile members 9, 9 and bottom and top rails 10 and II, respectively. The stiles 9, 9 0f the screen frame engage the outer faces of stops 4, 4 and the bottom rail l0 engages the vertical shoulder 3a of sill 3.

To supply means for attachment of the screen to the window frame and also to fill the space between the top rail ll of the screen and the meeting rail 1 of sash 6 so as to exclude insects, an elongated filler strip 12 of peculiar form is provided. The strip 12, preferably made of the same length as the width of the screen frame, comprises a longitudinally extending fiat zone I2a which is designed to engage a fiat surface of the top rail II, and preferably the top surface thereof. The strip is formed with a plurality of holes I2 to receive attaching screws [3, the holes being elongated transversely of the strip to permit limited lateral adjustment of the strip in relation to the top rail. Strip l2 further comprises a longitudinal zone l2b which is of a length to enter between the upright blind stops 4, 4 of the window frame and is curved longitudinally to circular arc form substantially more than and less than 360 in circumferential length, as shown in Figs. 4 and '7, the outside diameter of the circular zone being substantially equal to the width of stops 4 so that with the screen in position against stops 4 the curved side of zone [2b will engage the outer face of the sash meeting rail '1 (Fig. 4.).

To cooperate with the ends of filler strip l2 and movably secure the strip and screen to the window frame, a pair of hanger fittings 14, I4 are provided. Each of the hangers 14, comprises an elongated plate part 15 which is provided at its upper end with an attachment aperture 15a and at its lower end with a projecting trunnion H5. The trunnion it can be formed and attached to the plate part [5 in a variety of ways but in the preferred construction illustrated the entire hanger is die-formed from a single piece of sheet metal, the trunnion It being formed by bending the lower portion of the plate part [5 at right angles and bending to circular arc form lateral wings or extensions ltia of the metal piece so that the end edges of the wings come nearly together at the longitudinal median plane of the hanger through the trunnion axis. A small space is left between the adjacent edges of the wings 16a to permit some contraction or expansion of the trunnion. Thus the trunnion is given a circular form, except for its flat underside, to fit within the ends of the circular arcuate zone I21; of the filler strip l2. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the arcuate form of the trunnion is somewhat more than, and preferably should not be less than, 180 in circumferential extent.

Ordinarily each hanger I4 is attached to the face of stop 4 by means of a single round-headed screw It so that the hanger can be swung outward away from the sash meeting rail 1, as indicated in Fig. 5. However the plate part of each hanger is formed with a second aperture 15b to receive a nail or the like so that it is possible, if desired, to immovably secure the hanger to the stop after the screen has been installed. To permit fabrication of the hanger of sheet metal of moderate thickness the plate part 15 is formed with an inverted U-shaped strengthening rib IE and a gusset I1 is formed at the junction of part I with the trunnion I 6.

In the original installation of the screen employing the improved fittings either of two procedures may be followed, according to the number of screens to be installed. If the number of screens is large it is ordinarily desirable to provide a jig which will position the hangers (4 at a proper distance above the window sill so that the bottom of the screen rail M will be sustained slightly above the sloping top surface of the sill for proper drainage. The two hangers having been secured in position by their pivot screws 18 and the filler strip having been attached to the screen frame the screen can be mounted by grasping the two sides of the screen frame, engaging the free edge of the filler strip with the inner top sides of the hanger trunnions and swinging the hangers outward to approximately the positions shown in Fig. 5. This permits the trunnions to enter laterally into the arcuate recess of the filler strip, whereupon the screen may be released to permit it and the hangers to move to the positions shown in Fig. 4. As the thickness of the blind stops 4 of window frames from different manufacturing sources may vary slightly it may be desirable to attach the filler strip IE to the top of the screen without fully tightening the securing screws l3 until .the screen has been positioned as shown in Fig. 4 with its top rail l l engaging the outer sides of stops 4. Then if the inner side of the curved zone 12b of the filler strip falls short of engagement with the face of the sash rail 1 (epg. because of over-size stops 4) the filler strip can be adjusted inward on the screen (this being permitted by the elongated screw holes [2' (Fig. 6) and then firmly secured by tightening the screws l3. Similarly, if the stops 4 are under-size, the filler strip can be adjusted outward on the screen frame.

In the alternative method of original installation the procedure is to attach the filler strip to the top of the screen and press hangers into the ends of the strip; whereupon, with the screen supported a little above the sloping surface of the window sill, the positions of the hanger screws can be marked. Then, when the hangers have been attached to the blind stops, the screen can be attached to the hangers in the manner described above.

When the screen has been hung, a hook and eye fastener l9, or other disengageable means for securing the bottom part of the screen in closed position, can be installed.

While the adjustable form of filler strip 12 which has been described is the preferred form, major advantages of the invention can be had with the flanged strip 26 shown in Fig. 8. In this form of construction the zone 28a is provided with a longitudinal flange 2630 which stifiens the strip and provides a somewhat better weather seal for the top of th screen frame than in the case of strip l2. However, the flange interferes with the lateral adjustment of the strip which is possible with the first-described form. Of course it will be observed that the filler strip can be formed with its flat and arcuate zones suitably disposed in relation to each other for attachment of the strip to an inner side surface of the screen instead of the edge surface thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the metal fittings-filler strip and hangers-pivotally sustain the weight of the screen with its bottom clearing the outwardly inclined portion of the window sill, permit the bottom of the screen to swing outward freely for window washing and dusting, and afford an insect-tight joint between the top of the half-screen and the meeting rail of the window sash.

It will be clear, furthermore, that the use of the improved fittings obviates the need for fitting the screen frame to window frames that vary from standard dimensions. This is true as to width of window frame openings because it is permissible to have a considerable variation of clearance between the side edges of the screen and the window frame stiles, such clearance being limited only by the thickness of the blind stops, which the screen may overlap more or less, and by the axial dimension of the hanger trunnions, which is quite ample. As to the vertical dimensions of the screen and the lower sash of the Window, considerable variation of the latter is possible for a given screen since the meeting rail of the window sash with which the filler strip of the screen cooperates is of considerable vertical width.

Because of the considerations noted in the last preceding paragraph, screens with the improved fittings are interchangeable among Windows of the same glass size so that screens and window frames need not have identifying numbers. This greatly facilitates the seasonal rehanging of screens.

It will also be apparent that the fittings themselves of a, given size can accommodate some window frame variations from nominal dimensions since the hangers need not be centered on the blind stops and the filler strips are laterally adjustable on the screen frame.

It will be apparent, too, from the foregoing description that the screen fittings can be initially installed easily and quickly by an unskilled worker; and, with the fittings installed, it is obvious that the screen can be hung and detached from the window frame with great ease by grasping the sides of the screen and moving it outward and upward so as to swing the hangers outward, whereupon, with the hanger and screen parts in the relative positions shown in Fig. 5, the screen is readily engaged with the hanger trunnions or disengaged therefrom. Obviously such manipulation of the screen can readily be effected from the interior of the building.

While, with the improved fittings, a screen can be opened and closedL and completely detached for storing very easily and quickly, the design of the hangers and the filler strip is such that it is practically impossible to detach the screen from the hangers accidentally or unintentionally, as in the case of inadvertence on the part of a window washer or the blowing outward of the screen in a heavy wind. In such cases the screen is practically certain to be swung outward about its supporting pivots rather than to be raised in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 5. It is clear from Fig. 5 that the circularly curved trunnion surfaces and the curved zone l2b of the filler strip are sufficiently extended circumferentially and so positioned angularly as to prevent the unhooking of the screen from the hanger trunnions without moving the hangers and the plane of the screen approximately to the angular relationship shown in Fig. 5, and it is practically impossible for this to occur accidentally.

The simple forms of the fittings clearly favor low production costs. The filler strip can readily be formed from sheet metal and the integral form :of hanger disclosed can be cheaply fabricated from sheet metal blanks by the use of one die, chiefly by bending and with a minimum of swaging.

With the hangers pivotally attached to the window frame the weight of the screen supported on the hangers tends to press the inner side of the filler strip against the face of the meeting rail 1. However, the two parts have a line contact so that they are not objectionably stuck together by paint.

While the improved fittings are designed primarily for mounting a half -screen over the bottom half of a window, by reversing the filler strip on the screen and placing the hangers som what below their regular location the same screen can be mounted to cover the upper sash of the window.

It should be understood that the specific forms of construction which have been shown in the drawings and described above are presented for purposes of explanation and that the invention can be embodied in other equivalent structures within the bounds of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Window screen attaching means comprising an integral elongated sheet metal filler strip having a longitudinal flat zone formed toengage a flat longitudinal surface of the top rail of a screen frame and perforated for attachment thereto and also having a longitudinal zone extending from a lateral edge of the said flat zone and bent lengthwise to transverse circular arc form extending substantially more than and substantially less than 360 from its junction with the flat zone; and a pair of hangers each of which has an elongated plate part with a pivot aperture near one end and a trunnion projecting from the face of the plate part near its other end, the trunnion being of a size to enter the end of the arcuate zone of the filler strip and. having its lateral surface facing toward the pivotal end of the hanger substantially semi-circular in form to movably fit the inner arcuate surface of the filler strip and having its oppositely facing lateral surface of substantially lesser radial dimension than the said semi-circular surface to permit lateral entry of? the trunnion into the arcuate zone of the filler s rip.

2. An integral hanger of sheet metal having an elongated plate part with a pivot aperture near one end thereof and a tubular trunnion extending laterally from the face of the plate part at the other end thereof, the trunnion having a flat zone on the side of the trunnion remote from the pivot aperture and two mutually opposite circularly curved wings extending from the sides of the flat zone with their free ends mutually adjacent and separated by a narrow slot permitting limited contraction of the trunnion by resilient bending of the wings.

JOSEPH H. OSWALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,014,621 Cutler Jan. 9, 1912 1,411,784 Hipolito Apr. 4, 1922 1,607,005 Lannom Nov. 16, 1926 1,766,054 Brennan June 24, 1930 2,341,537 Froelich Feb. 15, 1944 2,593,177 Patterson Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 263,941 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1927 

